Seachem Prime

Seachem Prime

50 mL
$13.95
Sale price  $13.95 Regular price 
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Cost per litre

Under 1c

Water type

Freshwater + Marine + Reef

Seachem Prime

$13.95
Sale price  $13.95 Regular price 
Size

One capful of Prime detoxifies a whole water change in seconds. Seachem Prime is a complete conditioner for freshwater and marine aquariums: it removes chlorine and chloramine on contact, and binds ammonia, nitrite and nitrate into a non-toxic form for up to 48 hours. It's non-acidic, so it won't shift your pH, and at typical reef doses it doesn't over-activate a protein skimmer. Prime is sold in eight sizes from a 50 mL travel bottle to a 20 L bulk drum, all dosed the same way.

Key features
  • Removes chlorine and chloramine instantly — safe to dose straight into new tap water or directly into a running aquarium.
  • Detoxifies ammonia, nitrite and nitrate — the bound form stays non-toxic to fish for up to 48 hours while remaining available to your biofilter, so cycling isn't halted.
  • Detoxifies heavy metals commonly found in tap water at typical concentrations.
  • Non-acidic — won't push pH down the way some older conditioners do.
  • Reef and invertebrate safe at the standard dose, and won't over-activate a protein skimmer.
  • Extremely concentrated — a 50 mL bottle treats around 2,000 L; the 20 L drum treats around 800,000 L.
Specifications
Brand Seachem
Type Complete water conditioner (dechlorinator and ammonia/nitrite/nitrate detoxifier)
Standard dose 5 mL (1 capful) per 200 L of new water
Water type Freshwater, marine and reef
Effect on pH None — non-acidic
Sizes available 50 mL, 100 mL, 250 mL, 500 mL, 1 L, 2 L, 4 L, 20 L
Which size do I need?

Every size is the same formula at the same concentration — the only difference is how long it lasts and the cost per litre of water treated. All sizes work out to well under 1c per litre at the standard dose; larger bottles cost a little less per litre again, which mostly matters if you're on a large system or dosing weekly.

Size Approx. litres treated Cost per litre treated
50 mL 2,000 L Under 1c per litre
100 mL 4,000 L Under 1c per litre
250 mL 10,000 L Under 1c per litre
500 mL 20,000 L Under 1c per litre
1 L 40,000 L Under 1c per litre
2 L 80,000 L Under 1c per litre
4 L 160,000 L Under 1c per litre
20 L 800,000 L Under 1c per litre
Dosage and directions
  • Standard: 5 mL (1 capful) per 200 L of new water. Each thread on the cap is roughly 1 mL, for dosing small tanks.
  • High chloramine: a double dose (10 mL per 200 L) is safe.
  • Ammonia or nitrite emergency: up to 5 times the normal dose (25 mL per 200 L) to detoxify a spike.
  • Above 30°C with low chlorine or ammonia: use a half dose (2.5 mL per 200 L).
  • Re-dose every 24–48 hours if ammonia or nitrite remain elevated.
Suitable for, and not suitable for
  • Suitable for: freshwater, marine and reef aquariums; new water and emergency ammonia/nitrite control; ponds at pond-appropriate dilution.
  • Not suitable for: replacing regular water changes — Prime detoxifies, it doesn't remove waste from the system.
Safety

A sulfur-like smell after dosing is normal and not a sign the product has gone off. Standard liquid ammonia test kits can show a false positive after dosing, because Prime's ammonia bond isn't reversed by the Nessler reagent most kits use — a Seachem MultiTest Ammonia kit reads correctly. Keep out of reach of children.

Warranty and delivery

Covered by your rights under Australian Consumer Law in addition to any manufacturer terms. Standard parcel freight.

Common questions

Can I overdose Prime?

The emergency dose is up to five times the standard rate for ammonia or nitrite spikes, so a normal accidental overdose isn't dangerous. Very large deliberate overdoses aren't recommended.

Does Prime remove nitrate?

It detoxifies nitrate into a less harmful form for up to 48 hours, the same as it does with ammonia and nitrite — it doesn't strip nitrate from the system the way a nitrate-reducing media or water change does.

Will Prime affect my protein skimmer?

At the standard reef dose, Prime doesn't over-activate skimmers the way some older conditioners can.

Why does my tank smell slightly of sulphur after dosing?

That's a normal, harmless characteristic of Prime's chemistry — it isn't a sign the bottle has gone off.